Telangana activists fight over free zone!

The Hyderabad free zone issue has brought the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Telugu Desam, Telangana Congress leaders and the BJP on one platform again.

They have ruled out any compromise on the free zone issue and have given an ultimatum to the government to stop recruitment tests including the one for selecting sub-inspectors.

The TRS, which is again spearheading the movement along with the TD, has warned of turmoil if the government went ahead with the recruitment.

TRS workers conducted a rasta roko at Secunderabad station, RTC Crossroads and other areas protesting against the government decision to conduct SI tests in all districts barring Hyderabad.

T-activists are also using the free zone issue to project that Hyderabad would be part of Telangana if the state is bifurcated.

“Hyderabad cannot be alienated from Telangana; it has remained part of the region and will remain so,” said Mr T. Harish Rao, deputy floor leader of the TRS.

“We will not allow SI tests and other tests in Hyderabad till the air is cleared on free zone issue,” said another senior TRS leader, Mr Nayani Narasimha Reddy, who led the rasta roko at RTC Crossroads.

Scores of TRS activists were taken into custody by police for obstructing traffic at busy junctions.

The Telangana TD Forum convener, Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, also criticised the government for “playing with the lives of Telangana people” and demanded that the tests be stopped.

“Conduct of tests under the present environment will cause great injustice to the region,” he said.

Meanwhile, the TRS chief, Mr K Chandrasekhar Rao, has reportedly asked party leaders to intensify the agitation if the government decides to go ahead with the tests.